The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-15

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that she remained unmarried, had
cation with Eric Burtonford, except
with the consent and in the presence
Of John Pawson, she should forfeit her
share of the property, and it should
be held in trust for Robert Lumley,
auctioneer, and Wybert Moss, of no
particular calling. II have no liking
for these men, but they are both keen
enough to look we'll after their own
interests. / cast no reflection upon
John Pawson, but | would rather not
leave him the task Of disinheriting my
wife's neice, should there be need for
it," So said the banker.
Mr.. Burtonford had written his own
will, but it vas properly signed and
witnessed, and was perfectly legal in
spite OF many strange remarks and
unlawyerlike phrases.
Both Lumlay and Moss knew about
the bankers use of their names, and
often wondered whether they would
benefit by this eccentricity, or remain
always mere watchers, waiting to see
if the course of events would pro-
duce any change to the attitude of
Edith and Eric toward each other.
AS far as they knew, Eric had not
been near Swarfton, and Edith had
not seen him anywhere else. Some
times they asked John Pawson about
the affair, and he always answered in
his calm, serious manner, that the
| provisions Of Mr.. Burtonford's will
would be strictly carried out, but, as
far as he knew, nothing had hap
pened which called for interference.
"John Pawson will do the square
thing" said Lumley to Moss. my
fear is that those two did not care as
much for each other as people said.
at is awkward" replied Moss. "As
a rule, a will like Burtohford's would
kindle love where it never before exist
ed. There is nothing like opposition
for strengthening affection. But as
usual, the one exception to the rule
keeps me poor"
John Pawson often talked to him
self about Eric and Edith. He had
known them since they were children,
and had believed that their fondness
for each other would ripen into true
and lasting love.
81 know that Mr.. Burtonford would
have been pleased if he thought that
Edith cared for me-" John murmured
with a blush, "but that is impossible.
! supposed she liked Eric very much,
and vet she never mentioned him. He
was fond of her too, and yet he has
kept aloof. Isent HIM word about
his uncle's will, and he acknowledged
my letter in a very manly way, but |
have heard nothing since. He has
been badly treated if he was innocent;
yet | cannot see any explanation of
the affair, unless he took the notes"
Then he reviewed again, for the
hundredth time, what the banker had
told him about the quarrel with Eric.
81 vas in my library at home, John,
and | had ten notes on the table;
three were $50 notes, and the other
seven were 910 notes. WANTED them
for q particular purpose. / had just
finished entering the numbers in my
diary, when Eric came in. | told him
to sit down, for / was busy. | wrote
up my diary; then | was wanted in the
drawing-room for a minute. / just
glanced over the table, and left every
thing as it was. Perhaps | was alb
sent five minutes. When | returned /
found Eric seated where / had left
him. Then / wrote a letter and took
up the notes to inclose them. It was
q private affair, John. Itook up the
notes, and the three fifties were miss
ing. Eric declared that nobody had
entered the room during my absence,
and that he had not moved from
the chair. | am sure nobody had
been in but myself between the time
when ] entered the numbers and the
time when went to the drawing-room.
No window was open, and there was
out his pockets, and he refused point
blank. Then there was a scene.
/ sent for Edith and told everything
to her. Again ! asked him to turn
out his pockets, but he still refused.
So | ordered him out Of the house and
told him never to show his face in
Swarfton again, or | would give him
in charge of the police. / am glad /
always made it clear to him and Edith
that there must be no billing and COO
ing between them. Edith is too good
for him. What a wife she viii make,
John, in a few years! She is young
yet, | know, but If she had q husband
Of steadiness and experience man
like you-it would not matter. am
glad there was no billing and cooling
between her and Eric"
John Pawson had his doubts about
the bankers surmise respecting what
he called billing and cooling. Edith
lived with the Burtonfords, ard had
lived with them all hee life. Ericliyed
with a married sister, whose husband
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